Essex & Suffolk Water is to power all 200 of its sites using renewable electricity for the next four years.
From April 1 2018, a new green electricity deal will cover everything from the company′s largest treatment works down to its smallest telemetry systems.
The agreement with Danish energy supplier Ørsted is one of the biggest contracts the water company has ever awarded.
Essex & Suffolk Water is part of Northumbrian Water Group, which will be powering all 1,858 of its site using renewable energy as part of the deal.
Ørsted supplies renewable electricity from nine offshore wind farms in the UK, with the energy backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs). This means Northumbrian Water Group can achieve 125,000 tonnes of CO2 savings each year - over 600 times the weight of the Angel of the North.
Essex & Suffolk Water′s Commercial Director, Graham Southall, said: "Energy is an essential part of our business and our contract with Ørsted has enabled us to significantly reduce our carbon footprint, as well as driving down costs."
Philip Carvel, Category Manager added: "At Essex & Suffolk Water, we want to work with forward thinking, responsible supply partners whose values match our own. Ørsted is a market leader in green energy solutions and has a remarkable vision for a more sustainable world.
"Combining this with a highly competitive commercial offer means that we can keep costs down as well as reduce our environmental impact - a great result for our customers."
In 2016, Ørsted also announced that it would supply renewable electricity at no additional cost premium, so that UK businesses can achieve their sustainability ambitions without commercial disadvantage. Jeff Whittingham, managing director at Ørsted Sales (UK), said: "Ørsted is driving the transition to low-carbon energy systems in the UK, and we believe that businesses should have access to renewable electricity supply without incurring additional cost. Naturally, we are delighted that Northumbrian Water shares our ambition of creating this greener energy future. It′s exciting that such a large and trusted UK supplier places such a strong emphasis on sustainability."
The deal builds upon Northumbrian Water Group′s existing pillars of sustainability, including being the only water company in the UK to use 100% of its sewage sludge to create energy, through Advanced Anaerobic Digestion, at its treatment works in Howdon, on Tyneside. At Bran Sands, on Teesside, the company has also installed a 931-panel solar array on the roof, and in addition, it is home to England′s largest hydro plant at Kielder Water.
Northumbrian Water Limited supplies 2.7 million customers in the North East with both water and sewerage services, trading as Northumbrian Water, and 1.8 million customers in the South East with water services, trading as Essex & Suffolk Water.
In the most recent survey by the Consumer Council for Water, Northumbrian Water was named the UK′s most trusted water company by its customers. 2017 also saw Northumbrian Water named the world′s most ethical water company for the seventh successive year and Utility of the Year at the Utility Week Awards, for the second time in four years.
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About Ørsted
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. We develop, construct and operate offshore wind farms, bioenergy plants and innovative waste-to-energy solutions. We provide UK businesses with renewable electricity at no extra cost, and with innovative, smart energy solutions.
Headquartered in Denmark, Ørsted employs 5,600 people, including over 900 in the UK. Ørsted′s shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Orsted). In 2017, the group′s revenue was DKK 59.5 billion (EUR 8.0 billion). For more information on Ørsted′s solutions for businesses, visit www.orstedbusiness.co.uk or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.